Showing posts with label Competition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Competition. Show all posts

Saturday, February 24, 2024

World Crazy Golf Championships 2024

The 2024 World Crazy Golf Championships will be held in Hastings, East Sussex from the 7th to the 9th June.


Entries are open for the 2024 World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf.

The major miniature golf tournament will see the main event take place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June. A juniors event will be held on Saturday 8th June. And a team event will be held on Friday 7th June.

You can find out all the details on the Hastings Adventure Golf website, and the new Facebook Page for the World Crazy Golf Championships.


Richard Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships
Richard Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

We both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the event back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

Emily Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships
Emily Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

The competition is played on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Seafront. The layout is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety. The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003 and has been held at Hastings Adventure Golf every year, except 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic). The current champion is Adam Kelly who is enjoying his second reign as world champion having also won the 2022 event.

Friday, December 08, 2023

2024 British Minigolf Association Tournament Calendar

Details of the 2024 British Minigolf Association Tournament Events Calendar.


The British Minigolf Association has published the tournament calendar for the 2024 season.

Provisional 2024 BMGA tour calendar

Visit the British Minigolf Association website to find out more, and details of how you can join the BMGA and take part in events.

Please note: events are subject to change. Further events may be added to the BMGA Tour schedule.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

The Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf competition in Manchester

I won the Chrizy Golf Masters miniature golf tournament eleven years ago today!


The Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf competition in Manchester


The Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf competition in Manchester

The Chrizy Golf course was the 313th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to more than 1,000 courses since September 2006.

The Chrizy Golf course was gone once the 2012 festive season was over and the building remained empty, or used for other pop-ups, until the team at Junkyard Golf made it their home for another minigolf course. That layout was there for a couple of years. They have since moved on and can be found at a permanent venue at First Street in the city.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.


The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

Pirate Adventure Mini Golf at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008, my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,037 courses since September 2006.

Friday, August 11, 2023

Janken: The International Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2012

A look back at the 2012 International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London.


We competed in the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London eleven years ago this week. Time certainly flies!

We teamed up with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Dave Barry and his daughter Sophie from the USA to take part in the huge event.

The San Marino Rock Paper Scissors team at the Rock Paper Scissors International in London
The San Marino Rock Paper Scissors team

More than 150 athletes from 16 teams competed in the Wacky Nation organised tournament held at the Knight’s Templar Pub on Chancery Lane in London.

As we couldn’t play as a combined "UK-USA" team we decided to represent the plucky nation of San Marino instead.

Prior to the start of the competition I challenged football hard man Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock to a 'friendly' RPS contest to warm-up. Needless to say I won the shootout! It was an ill-tempered clash with plenty of foul language and gamesmanship. The heated battle almost resulted in a knock-out punch too!

International Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2012
Clash of the titans

International Rock Paper Scissors

Matches in the Round Robin stage of the main-event were played in a ‘first to four points’ format with each player in the team taking it in turns to win a point by competing in a ‘best of three’ Rock Paper Scissors game. Our team managed to rack up a win loss record of won four, lost one.

Before any teams could advance from our pool a play-off was required as Austria and Lapland A had also finished with four wins and one loss!

Thankfully our team was able to win both matches to advance alongside Lapland A, with the Austrians sent home.

The first semi-final saw San Marino take on the Vatican City team in a ‘first to six points’ match.

Unfortunately we lost and were therefore unable to go for gold.

Sadly we just missed out on the podium, suffering defeat to Great Britain in the repechage to ultimately finish in fourth place.

The final was a battle between the might of Lapland A and the Vatican City, with the Laplanders finishing on top and grabbing the gold medal.

Getting to the semi-finals of the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships was the furthest I ever reached in an RPS tournament, having been knocked out in the preliminary rounds of national competitions held in 2010 and 2011.

Monday, July 17, 2023

PIAG Open Championship 2023

The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship is returning this month.


The PIAG Open tees-off this week, with Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the UK offering players the chance to enter the event when they play a round at the course.

The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester
The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

The PIAG Open Championship is taking place across Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses between the 20th and 23rd July.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf have eight venues in England and Scotland.

Find out more on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.



Emily Gottfried - PIAG Open Champion in 2019
PIAG Open Champion in 2019

Richard Gottfried - PIAG Open Champion in 2018
PIAG Open Champion in 2018

Visit the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website for more information on the PIAG courses in Glasgow, Livingston, Cheshire Oaks, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

2023 British Minigolf Association Tournament Calendar

Details of the 2023 BMGA Tour events.


The British Minigolf Association has published the tournament calendar for the 2023 season.

2023 British Minigolf Association Tournament Calendar

Visit the British Minigolf Association website to find out more, and details of how you can join the BMGA.


Please note: events are subject to change. Further events may be added to the BMGA Tour schedule.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.


Weymouth Open minigolf champion Richard Gottfried

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

Pirate Adventure Mini Golf at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008 my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,004 courses since September 2006.

Thursday, September 29, 2022

World Crazy Golf Championships 2023 in Hastings

Entries are now open for the World Crazy Golf Championships 2023.


The 2023 World Crazy Golf Championships will be taking place on the Crazy Golf course at Hastings Adventure Golf in Hastings, East Sussex, England on the 9th,10th & 11th June.

Entries are now open via the Hastings Adventure Golf website.


We both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the event back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

The World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf
Playing hole 2 at the 2014 edition of the World Crazy Golf Championships

The competition is played on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Seafront. The layout is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety. The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003. The current champion is Adam Kelly who is enjoying his first reign as world champion.

Monday, September 12, 2022

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

The Great Yarmouth area has an excellent selection of mini golf courses for a round or two.


The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game this season. Find out more on the Big Mini Golf Tour blog.

You can plan your visit to the participating miniature golf courses by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Monday, July 11, 2022

PIAG Open 2022

Details of the Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open competition.


Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester
The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

The PIAG Open tees-off this week, with Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the UK offering players the chance to enter the event when they play a round at the course.

The event begins on Thursday 14th July and ends on Sunday 17th July.

The annual PIAG Open competition takes place across Paradise Island Adventure Golf's eight venues and is the largest Open miniature golf tournament in the UK with thousands of players competing across different age categories at each venue.

I won the PIAG Open at the Manchester Trafford Centre venue in 2018 and Emily won the event in 2019.

Emily Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018
Emily - the 2019 PIAG champion

Richard Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018
2018 champion

Visit the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website for more information on the PIAG courses in Glasgow, Livingston, Cheshire Oaks, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth.

Sunday, May 01, 2022

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off in Greater Yarmouth this month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.


Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

We've played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour


Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Filwood Crazy Golf Fun Day in Knowle West

The Filwood Fantastic Crazy Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol are holding a Crazy Golf Fun Day on Saturday 7th May.


The action tees-off at the Filwood Community Centre at 10am and runs until 3pm.

Filwood Crazy Golf Fun Day in Knowle West

The story of the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf course.

Take a look at this superb video telling the story of how the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf course in Knowle West, Bristol came about.


We loved being a part of the clubhouse and tee party online meetings and to play the unique course and meet the people involved was brilliant.

Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf in Knowle West, Bristol
I managed to score a hole-in-one taking the direct route across the beachy 'bridge'

The real life miniature golf course was created during the pandemic and the ideas for the hole designs were generated by members of the Knowle West community during Lockdown 1.

The Filwood Fantastic Crazy Golf course was the 966th course visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 549th we've played since September 2006.

There were so many fantastic people and organisations involved in the project and you can find out more about them via the links to their websites and social media below:

Thursday, April 28, 2022

The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth next month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.


Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May
The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth in May 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour


Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

20 days until the Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 begins on Saturday 14th May - National Miniature Golf Day!


20 days until the Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off

We've played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

You can see the details of participating courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the Big Mini Golf Tour List.

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses in the Greater Yarmouth area



Visit Great Yarmouth

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the “Big Mini Golf Tour”.

The Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour links for more information.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

One month until the Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off on Saturday 14th May - National Miniature Golf Day!

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off in one month today

We have played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

You can see the details of participating courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the Big Mini Golf Tour List.

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses in the Greater Yarmouth area



Visit Great Yarmouth

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the “Big Mini Golf Tour”.

The Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour links for more information.

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Mini Masters miniature golf tournament in Manchester

Looking back at the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester.


I won the Mini Masters miniature golf tournament in Manchester back on the 11th April 2009. Time certainly flies!

The 'Mini Masters' minigolf tournament in Manchester
Mini Master

The Mini Masters was the first of two tournaments I won on the 9-hole Championship Miniature Golf course at what was then Playgolf Manchester. The second event being the Miniature Open in July 2009.

The 'Mini Open' minigolf tournament in Manchester

I won the Mini Masters with a three round total of 81 (-24) after scoring 26, 27, and 28.

Championship Miniature Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester

The course was the 84th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then the course wasn't one of our local layouts as we still lived in Luton and travelled up for the events.

Championship Miniature Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester

The Championship Miniature Golf course is no longer at the centre, but you can find an expanded Championship Miniature Golf layout with two 18-hole courses in New Brighton. The location is no longer a Playgolf venue either. It's now known as the Trafford Golf Centre and is home to two 18-hole dinosaur adventure golf courses. I won the Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition there in 2018 too!

Saturday, April 09, 2022

Mini Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan

Visiting the two miniature golf courses at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan.


We headed to Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan to contest the Great Northern Minigolf Open tournament on the two minigolf courses in the park five years ago this weekend.

It's crazy to think that half a decade has passed already. Although two of those five years don't really count as they were a covid write-off!

First up was the Adventure Golf course.


Adventure Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan
Adventure Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan


This was followed by the Crazy Golf layout.


Crazy Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan
Crazy Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan

At just £1 per game, the course was the lowest price we'd ever found for an 18-hole course on our travels. Amazing value for money. We still haven't anywhere charging less than a quid a go.

The Haigh Woodland Park Crazy Golf course was the 728th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 701st in the UK.

We've now been to 983 courses on our travels since September 2006.


Great Northern Minigolf Open tournament

Margate's Scott Lancley won the Great Northern Minigolf Open played in Wigan's Haigh Woodland Park on Saturday 8th April.

Played over two rounds on the park's two 18-hole courses, Lancley won with a 36 hole score of 87. I was runner-up on 93, with Ramsbottom's Russ Dent finishing in third place on 95. A total of nine players took part in the first - and to date, only - staging of the event.

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

Winning the DinoFalls Adventure Golf Masters

Looking back at the 2018 DinoFalls Adventure Golf Masters.


I won the DinoFalls Adventure Golf Masters competition at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester back in April 2018 - where has the time gone since then!

Richard Gottfried at DinoFalls Adventure Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester

The DinoFalls Adventure Golf course was an 18-hole layout when we played the event and has since been joined by another 18-hole course, that one has a volcano theme. The venue is an eye-catching sight from the M60.

I've won four tournaments at the Trafford Golf Centre. In addition to the DinoFalls Masters and the MMGC Invitational I won in 2018, I won the 2009 Mini Masters and Mini Open on the 9-hole Championship Miniature Golf course which used to be at the centre.

Check out the DinoFalls Adventure Golf website for more information.

Sunday, April 03, 2022

The Big Mini Golf Tour - Course List and Map

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off on Saturday 14th May.


The Big Mini Golf Tour

We have played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the last decade and a half and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

You can view the details of participating courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the Big Mini Golf Tour List.

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses in the Greater Yarmouth area



Visit Great Yarmouth

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the “Big Mini Golf Tour”.

The Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour links for more information.